You know, if we all just sacrifice a little we can pull together to beat the current problems of not enough energy. Monolithic is doing it's part by killing most of the birds that nest around our beautiful oil refineries. Birds eat up a lot of food, and as everyone knows food takes energy to grow and prepare... so the fewer birds there are, the less energy we'll be wasting.

Down here in So Cal, the environmentalists are all up in arms about the solar arrays going in over near the Salton Sea because they're disturbing the habitats of some endangered species of gopher tortoise. Up near Modesto (?) the anti-turbine people have shut down some turbines because they're on a migratory bird route and have killed something like four golden eagles in the last three years.

Pretty much if there is ANY WAY not to have alternate fuel, someone will latch onto it. The real reasons are more that they don't like Big Corporations than they don't like green fuel, plus a big dose of NIMBYism.

MaudlinMutantMollusk:You know, if we all just sacrifice a little we can pull together to beat the current problems of not enough energy. Monolithic is doing it's part by killing most of the birds that nest around our beautiful oil refineries. Birds eat up a lot of food, and as everyone knows food takes energy to grow and prepare... so the fewer birds there are, the less energy we'll be wasting.

miss diminutive:Pray 4 Mojo: So if wind... nuclear... coal... hydro... etc... are bad, is solar the only thing left?

Tidal?

Nope. That idea got tossed down too, at least here up on the north coast of CA. Something, something about harming whales and seals and the electrical feed line back to the mainland could snap and fry everything around it. ShellEnergy just just cancelled a big wind project here too last year. So all we got is natural gas and biofuels (woodchips) and even that is getting the axe. We will be living like cavemen soon enough.

Also FTA: "Bald eagles typically start to look for nests in early winter and have been known to use more than one nest. By removing the nest before Jan. 6, it is anticipated they will find another suitable nest location and will avoid disturbing them during their critical nesting period.

Timing is critical as the eagles are not currently situated in the nest, however they have been seen perching in the area. Removing the nest will reduce the risk of eagle mortality at the site.

NextEra plans to provide artificial nests in the surrounding areas to ensure that the eagle pair can safely relocate."

I propose the next step in renewable resources... SOYLENT GREEN ENERGY!

Think about it, many people, the world over, complain about over population, and a need to curb our babby making. (citation needed) What better way, then to utilize all that delicious carbon that makes up the human body? Hell, we may not even need to actively farm, as thousands of people die in the world EVERY DAY!

miss diminutive:Pray 4 Mojo: So if wind... nuclear... coal... hydro... etc... are bad, is solar the only thing left?

Tidal?

Nope, there's Green movements against that too.

Although the only people who had the balls to actually sue were fishermen, that tells you something.

I say the best bet is Algae Diesel, carbon neutral, utilizes land that is otherwise useless, and low cost/maintenance. With the Vernal plateau you could easily provide the entire energy envelope of the Western US alone. Use the whole state of Utah and we could power the whole damned continent. But of course that doesn't involve redistribution of wealth to the top 1% so it'll be ignored completely.

Sorry subby, as best as I can tell, this isn't the "Government". They approved the nest removal, but you're implying that it was the government specifically trying to go green, not a private corporation. Granting permit approval is NOT the same as partnering with a company.

I can't figure out if you didn't read your own link, or if you are willfully spreading the lie here.

In the competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources stands for clean energy. We have invested - and will continue to invest - in a clean-energy tomorrow for future generations. Our expertise is in wholesale and retail electricity and project development and construction, as well as in offering customers the energy products and services they need.

Facts at a Glance

Largest generator of wind and solar power in North AmericaSubsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc.Employees: approximately 4,700Headquarters: Juno Beach, Fla.

As far as I can tell, there are three kinds of people who oppose this stuff: The NIMBYists, who just don't want tubines/solar arrays/nuclear plants/whatever in THEIR pristine back yards; the anti-corporatists, who just don't want any kind of alternate fuel sources if it means So Cal Edison would be running the show; and the anti-humanists, who just don't want anything that would mean people get to live.

So you get "environmentalists" who oppose fossil fuels because they hurt the environment, but who will find some environmental cause to oppose any alternative fuels--these are the ones who oppose wind turbines that hurt birds and solar arrays that hurt tortoises. Which is true; but in the overall scheme of things, a few golden eagles or gopher tortoises has to be balanced against the scores of other species (not to mention entire ecosystems) which will be saved by the switchover from oil/coal to solar/wind. That's when you realize that these people don't REALLY care about the "environment" as much as they do about their own precious back yards or pet causes--namely, sticking it to Exxon or BP, even if it means screwing everyone else and the desert as well.

When all is said and done, it's a bird's nest. Yes, eagles use the same nest if and when they can. But "if and when" is a chancy thing. Trees aren't forever, especially the kind that eagles like to nest in (the nests I've seen have been in bare, dead snags ... great for visibility, not so great for not being struck by lightning, catching fire, falling into the swamp, etc.) Trees fall down, nests come apart, and so on. If they can't use the old nest, they'll build a new one. It's not like nests appear ready-made out of thin air. They built one, they'll build another.

Also, there are a lot of endangered birds in the world. The bald eagle is not one of them. Just because it looks good on stamps doesn't mean it should get priority over, say, the Kirtland's warbler or the whooping crane. Warblers are tiny and cranes look kind of doofus, but rarity should be what matters, not looks.